Lather mixing machine



y 24, 1956 R. E. SWITZER 2,756,102

LATHER MIXING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1955 2 s tg s 1 IDA INVENTOR.

RALPH E. SWITZER y 24, 1956 R. E. SWITZER 2,756,102

LATHER MIXING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.RALPH E. SWITZER United States Patent -O LA HER M XIN M HINE IRalph-Enswitzer, Detroit, Mich assignor .to Morris B. Holmberg,Minneapolis, Minn.

pp i on June Se i l; N ,458 1 11 Claims. (Cl; 299-133) This; inventionrelates -to: lather forming machines.

An object ofmy inventionris the; provisionofa new and-.improyed-lathermacliinewof;relatively simple and inexpensive ,constructionvandoperation which is well adapted for home use in the production ofshaving .lather.

Another-objectof. my invention is to provide a novel lather mixingmachine wherein the lather-forming'brush,

'ment of a commontype of bar vshavingsoapin the pro- .ductionoflatherand which produces substantially only the amount of; lather desiredforimmediate use when the machine is operated.-

A stillrfurther object iofsrny invention is the provision of alathertrmixing machine wherein a single control renders the machineoperative byacontrollingboththe agitating and lather :formingibrush andthe watersupply necessary to'the formation, of lather.

These andotherobjects. and advantages of .my inven tion will more fullyappear from thevfollowing description made inconneetioniwiththeaccompanying d awings wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similarparts throughout, theiseveral views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ,ofthelather. mixing machine;

Fig. 2 is a crosssectionview taken ona vertical plane longitudinallythrough the invention. substantially in a planeindicated at 2+2 in Fig.1 and having portions Of thebrushbroken away for Sake of clarity; 1

Fig. 3 is a section ,view taken one. yertical planesubstantially at 33as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig, 4 is a detail. section viewtaken along a broken horizontal line andlooking upwardlyas indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 2, and having the brushremoved for clarity;

Fig S is a detail Section viewtaken ona vertical plane substantially at55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectioniviewsimilar to Fig. 4 and showing anotherform of v the: invention; v

The invention as shown in the drawings, includes a housing or bodymember 10 which, in the form shown, is constructed of metal butmay beformed of any other suitable rigid material. The housing 10 isstream-lined to present an exceedingly pleasing anapearancefor householduse. A cover member 10:: forming a part of the bodymember 10 is'detachably secured at the rear portion thereof. In the upper portion ofthe housing 10 wis formed a receptacle '11 for containing asupply-of-water for usein- .the lather mixing machine. A receptaclecover 11a is removably mounted on the housing 10 to enclosethereceptacle 11. An enlarged interior chamber 12 is formedwithinthe-housing 10. and is ofla substantially cylindrical shape defined by aperipheral wall-surface 13 and by an end s rfa .14- T e, n end. f t amer 2 i cl sed by a remov bl pla e .15 wh chp qvides the other d' d fin g.surtace .16 of theic amber ,12. The

2,756,102 Batented July 24, 1956 ice substantially cylindrica r harnb r2v compris ng the her xing. c mp m nt, s p e w th a latherzd ar evopening 17 w ich c mmuni ate .through" thev end l urfac 1 dlt o h-a utably Qrm dwnout .18 which P ject w dly f m h hous n 0 and may be.formesiintesral v he eof! s est ee nige2 and 4', antelcueat d shoulderCI l d er: is p medi t thezhqd -r m mbe 1 a protrudes inwardly t q heiute .p t ph ral s rfac whi h. d fines. e c m e 2 h il sc ex end emxo eed o thfe c erub 21 the o her end th o and is g n l v pi a lv .d l i T eed e 19am periph a l s rtase.-. 3-:d s il 1 amber 9 9R- e a r f rmvlathe tc l st nd-diw a in g opvp w ich. is subst nt a y coexter e, .wahel-lath r. discharge openin whime t ndst rc gh pq t, 8.-.; As st .sn.i s}.4;-one and .Q ed e; s di pass closely ja e t the la r d sc a gone n ufl ai sln one sidegthereof and the inner, end 1%, of ledge, 19.is arcuately spaced from the outer end .19 1 thereof ea s a p ovided fopply rtime-th c amber 12, and in the form shown such means include an are o e in v 20 h: exte ds r u h .ihQnbD Y memb r 1 and t t uaht e P rpheral walt u fa el tt ommu ica w h t r r chamb .1 e in i the orm.....hown, ,o subs antial y, circu am pe and s o fi 'e t.sizeto ac ommod tea .c 11v .ti na1 ba. 2 of shaving soap. The body member 10 has internalr a 1 p i ed a t e oute enclcf the Q paewiv opening 20, and asuitableretaining cap 23 having an ex te al yith easled pqr ionl-iis ,thta edl moun ed. W thin e open ng .20 d ainin t e. batt lot so p hf an.Suitable means are provided for resiliently urging the bar 0i p ardly ofheshambe 11 andiul heform shown comprises a compression spring 25 .whichis o ed in thefiaP 23 d w ch a qens'a s a dials which is disposed in theopening 20 for forcin'g the soap inwardly.

Means'are also provided for introducing water into the chamber 12 to bemixed with the soap for forming lather and in the form shown, a Water.inlet opening 21 communicates between the Water storage receptacle 11and interior chamber 12 and a valve element 2 8 is shiftably mounted inthe opening 27 to controlthe flow of water therethrough. Valve. element28 is normallybiased to closed position and may be opened to permitwater to flow from the receptacle 11 by gravity downward intp thechamber 12. Valve. element 28 is controlled by a push lever 29 which isslidably mounted in a suitable aperture 30 in bodymember 10 and which isattached [to a rigid interconnection .or shaft ;31' which extendsthrough a suitable openingfizjn body member 10 and connects to anactuating or connecting element 33; Theconnecting element 33' isconnected to the valve element 28 and for "operating the same when thepush lever ispushed inwardly of the body member 10. The spring 34 whichis disposed in the .bore 30 normallyurges the push mem ber 29-to itsoutward position. and the connecting element 33 limits the outwardmovement thereof.

Means are provided inthe lather mixing chamber 12 for agitating the soapand water introduced therein lfor or g l h an in t e f rm ow isu hmaanttom: p s a ta b u av a ad l y di pos dht st csw ish extend intoproximity with the peripheral wall surface 13 for thoroughly mixing thewater and soap supplied into the chamber 12. Therot'ar-y brush 35 isjournalled in suitablebearings. 36 and 37 respectively mollnled in thebody mem r. 0 an i th su e. r at A bestseen. n Fi s; and the istl e dtpqtiqns pith? bru h 35 eng ge and pass over t e ledge/I19 when the brush 3s otatedli th .directio farmw p tabewmtzd of lather thereby. A

The outer end portion 19a of ledge 19 is areuately spaced from the innerend portion 19b thereof in the directioniof travel of the bristle endportions of brush 35, which is indicated bythe direction of arrow D.

Suitable means are provided for rotating the agitating brush 35 and inthe form shown, such means include a friction disc 38 which is atfixedto the rotary shaft 39 of brush 35 which extends through the plate andthe bearing 37. The friction disc 38 may be constructed of any suitablematerial and in the form shown, is constructed of a firm but resilientrubber. The means for driving the brush also includes an electric motorindicated in general by numeral 40 which may be of any suitable type andin the form shown, includes a single phase shaded pole induction typemotor having a laminated field member or stator 41 upon which is mounteda suitable field coil 42 which is retained by rigid members 43. Motor 40is supported from the body member 10 and is connected thereto bysuitable frame elements 40a which are connected to the stator 41 as byscrews 40b and to the body member as by screws 40c. Motor 40 alsoincludes.

a rotor 44 suitably mounted in bearings 45 which is supported from thestator 41. The rotor 44 is connected to l the output spindle 46 whichengages the outer peripheral surface of the friction element 33 fordriving the same.

Spindle 46 and friction disc 38 provide an extremely simple andinexpensive speed reducing device between the motor 40 and the brush 35.Because of the employment of this unique speed reducing device the motor40 may be of an extremely simple and inexpensive construction.

Suitable switch means for controlling operation of the motor 40, suchmeans may comprise any suitable switch ing device connected in one sideof the power supply for motor 40, and in the form shown such meansinclude a microswitch47 which is suitably mounted as on therigidretainer members 43 adjacent the shiftable actuator 33 to be operatedwith shifting thereof. Microswitch 47 is of a conventional type andincludes a push button 48 which is engaged by the actuator or connectingelement 33 when the same is shifted by operation of the push lever 29.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 the construction of thelather machine is substantially identical to that shown in Figs. 1through 5. The housing of body member 50 has a lather mixing chamber 51formed therein, a discharge spout 52 having a discharge opening 53communicating therethrough to the chamber 51, a soap bar opening 54communicating through the peripheral chamber wall for introducing soapinto chamber 51 and a threadably removable cap 55 for retaining the soapbar 56 in chamber 54 and urging the same inwardly toward the chamber 51.In the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of ledges 57,58 and 59 are formed in the body member 50 and protrude inwardly intothe chamber 51 in a manner substantially identical to that of ledge 19in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs 1 to 5. The ledges 5759extend generally longitudinally of the cylindrical lather mixing chamber51 and are spirally disposed with respect to the chamber. The outer endportions 57a, 58a and 59a of the ledges are arcuately spaced from theinner end. portions 57b, 58b and 59b thereof in the direction of travelindicated by arrow E, of the brush bristles. The ledge 57 will protrudeinwardly into the chamber farther than the ledges 58 and 59 and theledge 58 will protrude inwardly into the chamber farther than will ledge59 from the peripheral chamber wall.

Operation In the operation of the lather mixing machine, it will beplaced in a convenient location as in the bathroom of a house adjacentthe sinkwhere shaving is usually done. The receptacle top 1111 may beremoved to permit the pouring of a supply of water into the receptacle.11. The spring 25 will resiliently urge the bar of soap inwardly towardthe chamber 12 so as to supply the necessary soap for forming lather.

When the push lever 29 is pushed as by the thumb of a persons hand, thefingers of the hand maybe conveniently placed below the spout 18 tocollect the lather discharge through the opening 17.. When the pushlever 29 is pushed inwardly to dotted positionB thereof the actuator 33is also shifted to dotted position B to engage the microswitch pushbutton 43 and start the motor. When the motor is started, the brush 35will revolve in the form shown in the range of approximately to 200 R.P. M. in the direction of arrow D. Substantially simultaneously with thestarting of motor 40, the valve element 28 will be shifted into thedotted position B thereof to open the water inlet 27 and permit water topass from the receptacle 11 into the lather mixing chamber 12.

The rapidly rotating bristles of brush 35 will, as best shown in Fig. 3,engage the inner end of the soap bar 21 and thereby carry small portionsof soap into the chamber wherein the water which has been supplied willbe picked up by the rapidly rotating brush and be vigorously agitatedwith the soap to form a lather. The outer end portions of the brushbristles will engage and pass across the ledge 19 and will be wipedthereof of soap lather carried thereby. The lather is thereuponcollected on ledge 19 for discharge through the opening 17 in spout 18.Because the ledge 19 is substantially spirally disposed with relation tothe peripheral wall of the chamber 12 and with respect to the outerperiphery of the brush 35, the lather collected on ledge 19 will bepositively forced and urged by the brush bristles from the inner edgeportion 19b of ledge 19 toward the outer edge portion 1% thereof andoutwardly of the discharge opening 17. The lather formed by theagitating brush 35 will thereby be discharged immediately after thelather has formed and substantially all of the lather formed duringrotation of the brush is discharged along ledge 19 and in the grooveformed thereby in cooperation with the peripheral wall surface 13.

When the push lever 29 is released, the spring 34 urges it outwardlyagain to the full line position shown and the actuator 33 releases themicroswitch 47 and causes the motor to stop substantially with thestopping of motor 40. The valve element 28 is shifted back into seatedposition to close the water inlet 27 and thereby preclude entrance ofmore water into the lather-forming chamber 12. The brush 35 will ceaserotation when motor 40 has stopped and the discharge of lather throughthe opening 17 will cease substantially immediately when the rotatingbrush 35 is stopped.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 issubstantially identical to that shown in Figs. l to 5. In the form ofthe invention shown in Fig. 6 the brush bristles will be thoroughlywiped a plurality of. times by the plurality of ledges 57--59. Becauseof the plurality of ledges, there will be somewhat more agitation of thebristles due to their passing over the ledges in succession as the brushis rotated.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved lather mixingmachine wherein the rapidly rotating brush agitates the soap and waterintroduced into the lather forming chamber and then positively drivesthe lather outwardly of the mixing chamber through the dischargeopening.

It should also be noted that I have provided a novel lather mixingmachine wherein the lather discharged is wiped from the agitatingbristles which carry a substantial supply of later while rotating andwherein the discharge of lather is substantially immediately stoppedwhen the brush stops revolving.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention which consists of the matterdescribed herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A lather machine comprising a body member defining an enlargedchamber, means for introducing soap and water into said chamber, arotary brush mounted within said chamber for movement in close proximitywith the body member for agitating the soap and water therein andforming lather, said body member also having a wiping ledge extendinginwardly of said chamber and engaging the bristles of said brush forWiping the lather therefrom, said body member having a lather outlettherein adjacent said ledge for discharging the lather collectedthereon, and means for rotating said brush.

2. A lather machine comprising a body member having an enlarged interiorchamber defined by an interior Wall surface, means for introducing soapand water into said chamber, a rotary brush mounted within said chamberfor movement in close proximity with the wall surface for agitating thesoap and water and forming lather, a wiping ledge extending inwardly ofthe chamber from said surface and defining therewith a groove, a latheroutlet in said body member communicating with said chamber andcoextending with said groove for discharging lather collected thereon,said brush having bristles with end portions, said bristle end portionsengaging and passing over the ledge to be wiped thereby, and power meansfor rotating said brush, whereby lather will be formed in said chamberand collected in said bristles which are wiped on said ledge.

3. A lather machine comprising a body member having an interior wallsurface defining a large interior chamber, a ledge secured to'said bodymember and protruding inwardly of the chamber from said interior wallsurface and cooperating with said surface to define a lather col lectinggroove, means for introducing soap and water into said chamber, a brushmounted in said chamber for continuing movement for agitating the soapand water and forming lather, the bristles of said brush engaging andmoving transversely across said ledge to be wiped thereby, said bodymember having a lather discharge opening therein communicating with saidchamber and co-extending with said groove for discharging lather collected thereon as said bristles move thereacross, and powered means formoving said brush.

4. A lather machine comprising a body member having an enlarged andsubstantially cylindrical chamber formed therein and defined by aperipheral interior wall surface, an elongated ledge secured to saidbody member and extending generally longitudinally of said chamber andprojecting inwardly thereof from said peripheral surface, means forintroducing soap and water into said chamber, a rotary brush mountedwithin said chamber and having radially disposed bristles extending intoproximity with said peripheral wall surface for agitating the soap andwater and forming lather, said bristles engaging and passing over saidledge to be wiped of lather thereby, said body member having a latherdischarge opening communicating with said chamber and being disposedadjacent said ledge for discharging lather collected thereon, and meansfor driving said rotary brush.

5. The structure recited in claim 4 wherein said ledge and saidperipheral wall surface define a groove for discharging lathertherethrough, and wherein said lather discharge openingis disposed inco-extending relation with said groove, said groove having an outer endportion disposed adjacent said discharge opening and having an inner endportion, and said ledge being generally spirally disposed on saidperipheral surface so as to arcuately space the outer end portion ofsaid groove from the inner end portion thereof in the direction ofrotation of said brush, whereby the brush will be wiped of lather bysaid ledge and will force the lather outwardly through said dischargeopening.

6. The structure recited in claim 2 and including a single control forsubstantially simultaneously operating said brush driving means and forintroducing water into said chamber, whereby water is suppled into thechamber for forming lather when said brush is rotated and the supply ofwater is cut off when said brush is stopped.

7. The structure recited in claim 2 wherein said body member has anopening communicating with said chamber adjacent the ends of therotating brush bristles therein for carrying a bar of soap to be engagedby said bristles for the formation of lather, and means urging such abar of soap inwardly of the chamber into engagement with said brush.

8. A lather machine comprising a body member having an enlarged andsubstantially cylindrical interior chamber defined by an inwardly facingperipheral wall surface, a ledge protruding inwardly of said surface anddefining therewith a lather collecting and discharge groove, said ledgeextending generally spirally from one end of said chamber to the otherend thereof, said body member having a lather discharge opening formedtherein and extending through the end of said chamber in substantiallyend to end relation with said groove, and said body member having anopening communicating through the peripheral wall surface of saidchamber for carrying a bar of soap, means for urging such a bar of soapinwardly of said chamber, and means for introducing water into saidchamber, a rotary brush mounted within said chamber and having radiallydisposed bristles extending into proximity with said wall surface andengaging and being wiped by said ledge, said ledge being disposed tocause said bristles to force the lather collected thereon outwardlythrough said discharge opening, and means for rotating said brush.

9. A lather mixing machine comprising a body member having an enlargedand substantially cylindrical chamber formed therein and defined by aperipheral interior wall surface, means for introducing soap and waterinto said chamber, a rotary brush mounted within said chamber and havingradially disposed bristles extending into proximity with said peripheralwall surface for agitating the soap and water and forming lather, aplurality of elongated ledges protruding inwardly of said chamber fromsaid peripheral surface and extending generally 'Iongitudinally of thechamber, said bristles engaging and passing over said ledges to be wipedof lather thereby, and said body member having a lather dischargeopening communicating with said chamber and disposed adjacent the endsof said ledges for discharging lather collected thereon, and meansdriving said rotary brush.

10. The structure recited in claim 9 wherein said separate ledgesprotrude inwardly of said chamber diiferent distances from saidperipheral surface and wherein said ledges are constructed and arrangedto cause the brush bristles when passing thereover to positively drivethe lather collected on the ledges outwardly through said dischargeopening.

11. A lather machine comprising a body member defining an enlargedchamber, means for introducing soap and water into said chamber, arotary brush mounted within said chamber for movement in close proximitywith the body member for agitating the soap and water therein andforming lather, said body member also having a wiping ledge extendinginwardly of said chamber and engaging the bristles of said brush forwiping the lather therefrom, said body member having a lather outletcommunicating with said chamber, powered rotary means for rotating saidbrush including a motor and including a speed reducing device interposedbetween said motor and said brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,914,868 Rolstad June 20, 1933' 2,310,379 Wahl Feb. 9, 1943 2,344,170Rolstad Mar. 14, 1944

